From molecules to the full human body: We integrate approaches of molecular and cellular biology, biochemistry, genomics and anatomy to understand fundamental human physiology. Researchers in this group study mechanisms and regulatory functions across a spatial scale ranging from 60 nanometers (a single molecule) to 6 billion nanometers (the full human body). This area of study requires curiosity, creativity and collaboration, and our faculty mentors are proud to cultivate these characteristics in students and trainees through hands-on laboratory experiences. Graduates from our programs gain the knowledge and skills necessary to set them up for successful careers in academia, government, private industry and more.
Current areas of study in integrative physiology include:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Central nervous system physiology
- Gastrointestinal physiology
- Sensory physiology
Faculty
Jose M. Eltit, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Jose M. Eltit, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: Psychostimulants and potential therapeutic targets for psychostimulants use disorder; mechanisms behind maladaptive responses of the heart to common arrhythmias and potential therapies
Email: jose.eltit@vcuhealth.org
Javier González-Maeso, Ph.D.
Professor
Javier González-Maeso, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: Structure, function and regulation of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), their interacting proteins and psychiatric disease associations such as schizophrenia, depression and opioid use disorder
Email: javier.maeso@vcuhealth.org
John R. Grider, Ph.D.
Professor and Interim Chair
John R. Grider, Ph.D.
Professor and Interim Chair
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: Enteric nervous system and control mechanisms of gastrointestinal motility
Email: john.grider@vcuhealth.org
Vijay Lyall, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Vijay Lyall, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: investigating taste transduction mechanisms in both pre-clinical models and cultured adult human fungiform taste cells using taste nerve recordings, molecular techniques, imaging techniques and behavioral studies
Email: vijay.lyall@vcuhealth.org
Liya Qiao, Ph.D., M.S.
Professor
Liya Qiao, Ph.D., M.S.
Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: Molecular mechanisms of visceral pain and multi-organs cross sensitization using modern genetic and imaging techniques in preclinical models and human tissues
Email: liya.qiao@vcuhealth.org
I. Scott Ramsey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
I. Scott Ramsey, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: Structural bases of ion channel gating and permeation; automated high-throughput electrophysiology; targeting ion channels for novel therapeutic approaches to treat neuroinflammation, deafness and inflammatory airway disease
Email: ian.ramsey@vcuhealth.org
Gea-Ny Tseng, Ph.D.
Professor
Gea-Ny Tseng, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: Pathways of protein trafficking in adult cardiac myocytes and the linkage between dysregulation of protein trafficking and disease progression in the heart
Email: gea-ny.tseng@vcuhealth.org
Roland N. Pittman, Ph.D.
Professor and Graduate Program Director
Roland N. Pittman, Ph.D.
Professor and Graduate Program Director
Department of Physiology and Biophysics
Research interests: Role of oxygen in local regulation of blood flow and oxygen transport in microcirculation
Email: roland.pittman@vcuhealth.org